Diggers have started their season off on the right foot taking a first-round win in the Griffith District Cricket Association.
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They were facing an undermanned Hanwood team who were missing some key players including regular captain Dean Catanzariti.
The Hanwood innings didn’t get off to the best start with Brad Hornery (2) being found short of his ground and run out by Daniel Peruzzi.
Luke Shannon (18) and Jack Rowston (11) tried to stabilise the innings, but their partnership was cut short to see the side sitting at 3/30 after Diggers captain Theo Valeri (1/20) removing Shannon before Lugton picked up the wicket of Brendan Hicken (0).
It was the constant fall of wickets which would prove the main issue for Hanwood as they struggled to put together a partnership.
Rowston was the next to fall with Tom Valeri taking a catch off the bowling of Jason Hampel (1/9).
Charlie Cunial (17) and Ryan McWhirter (3) tried to get the side to a defendable total however when Cunial was caught by Dean Villatta off the bowling Hampel
Hanwood struggled from that point with Todd Argus (3), Ryan McWhirter, M. Tiere (12), Cameron McWhirter (4) and Dean Wynne (0) falling in quick succession to see the side bowled out for 79 in 24.3 overs.
Lugton finished with economical figures of 2/24 off his eight overs while Hampel and Dean Villatta (2/13) picked up two wickets apiece while Valeri and Dom Brown (1/4) took a wicket each.
A small chase can often be a difficult one so Diggers needed their openers to put their head down and work towards the total with the side only needing to score at a run rate of just under two runs an over off their 40 overs.
Brown (11) and Daniel Peruzzi (0) got the innings off to a start before Peruzzi was dismissed by Cunial (2/20)
Brown followed after he was caught by Ryan McWhirter off the bowling of Cunial three runs later as Diggers suffered a slight wobble early in their innings.
With time on their side captain Valeri (36*) and Trevor Richards (21) put their head down and restored some balance in their innings.
The pair got their side to within 17 runs of victory with a 44 run partnership before Richards was caught by Argus off the bowling of Ryan McWhirter (1/12).
There was no panic from Diggers as Theo and Tom (5) Valeri came together at the fall of Richards and steered their side home with 23 overs remaining and seven wickets in hand.
Diggers will now prepare to take on Exies while Hanwood will take on Coro who will be playing their first game after having the bye.